KR19980052714A - Preventing Loss of Billing Information in Satellite Communication System - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of preventing the loss of billing information in a satellite communication system that prevents the loss of billing information when transmitting and receiving billing information in a central control station. A satellite communication system providing a communication function of the subscriber by combining through; When the call center receives the call release message signal from the base station, the central station extracts the charging information, the communication state determining step of searching for normal communication with the network management device, and the communication state with the network management device. When the billing information is transmitted to the network management device, if not normal, characterized in that it comprises a billing information processing step of storing the billing information.

Description

Preventing Loss of Billing Information in Satellite Communication System

The present invention relates to a communication system using satellites, and more particularly, to a method of preventing the loss of billing information in a satellite communication system to prevent the loss of billing information when transmitting and receiving billing information in the central control station.

At present, satellite communication, which allows subscribers who are located at remote sites to make calls through satellites, is becoming increasingly common. Such satellite communication is mainly required for long distance communication between countries because it does not require a separate signal line for a call. It is usefully used as a communication method in a mountainous country like Korea.

In the satellite communication, a pre-assignment multiple access (PAMA) method of allocating communication channels for each subscriber before a predetermined time in accordance with the channel assignment method and a DAMA (Demand Assignment Multiple) for allocating communication channels according to a subscriber's request. Access) method, in general, the DAMA method for voice communication and the PAMA method for data communication are adopted in consideration of the cost and effectiveness of the communication channel.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a general satellite communication system according to the DAMA method.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 is a satellite having a plurality of communication channels, 2 is a central control station for controlling the entire satellite communication system, and 3 (3A, 3B) is an exchanger (11A, 11B) or a telephone (12A, 12B). And interface functions for terminals such as data terminals 13A and 13B and facsimile 14A and 14B, such as a computer, and communication between the various terminals through data transmission and reception with the central control station 2. It provides a base station.

Here, the central control station (2) is divided into a network management device and a central station. The network management device is connected to the central station to perform system operation and network management functions, and is connected to a system operator to provide various information to the operator. And perform a function according to a command from an operator, and the central station controls the call processing procedure, retrieves the network state and the state of the base station 3, and reports the state to the network management apparatus.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral S denotes a service channel for transmitting and receiving control data, and T denotes a traffic channel for transmitting and receiving data or voice.

The service channel S (also referred to as a service data network) includes one outbound channel, which is a transmission channel from the central control station 2 to the base station 3, and at the base station 3; It consists of up to four Inbound channels, which are transmission channels to the central control station 2. The outbound channel uses a time division multiplexing (TDM) scheme, which is called a TDM channel, which transmits synchronization and data packets. Each packet has a base station identification code for identifying a particular base station or a wide area identification code for transmission to all base stations. The inbound channel is a channel for transmitting the control data related to network operation by several base stations 3 to the central control station 2, and is multiplied by a S-ALOHA (Slotted Aloha) method (this is called an S-ALOHA channel). Use a protocol.

In the above configuration, the central station of the central control station 2 sends the control message through the service channel in the normal state, and then, based on the response message transmitted from the base station 3, That is, a polling function that checks the available capacity of the communication capacity or the communication channel is performed. When there is a call request from a specific base station, for example, the base station 3A to the terminal of the base station 3B, it is determined whether the corresponding base station 3B is in a state in which communication is possible based on the information obtained in the polling process. In the case of the communicable state, the available traffic channel T of the satellite is allocated to both base stations 3A and 3B so that both base stations 3A and 3B can directly communicate with each other.

Subsequently, when the communication is terminated between the base stations 3A and 3B, and the call release signal is applied through the service channel S from the base station 3A, the central station executes communication termination processing for both base stations. This releases the traffic channel T that was provided for both base stations 3A and 3B.

Meanwhile, the base station 3 adds the charging information of the subscriber to the call release signal and outputs it. At this time, the central station extracts predetermined charging information from the call release signal and outputs it to the network management device.

However, if charging information is transmitted from the central station to the network management device in a state where the central station and the network management device cannot normally communicate, there is a possibility that the charging information of the subscriber, which is very important data for the system operator, may be lost. do.

Accordingly, the present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and when charging information is transmitted from the central station in the central control station to the network management device, if the communication state between the two components is not normal, the charging information is stored in a predetermined memory. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing the loss of billing information in a satellite communication system that can prevent the loss of billing information of a subscriber by first transmitting after the communication is resumed.

1 is an overall system configuration for explaining the outline of a general satellite communication system.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating in hardware the method of preventing the loss of billing information in a satellite communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of preventing the loss of billing information in a satellite communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Brief description of the main parts of the drawing

1: satellite 2: central control station

3A, 3B: Base station 11A, 11B: Switchboard

12A, 12B: Telephone 13A, 13B: Data Terminal

14A, 14B: Facsimile 21: Antenna

22: RF processing unit 23: IF combination distribution unit

24: SCPC channel unit (SCU) 30: network control unit

31: billing information storage unit 40: network management device

In the satellite communication system according to the present invention for realizing the above object, a charging information loss prevention method comprising: a satellite communication system providing a communication function of a subscriber by combining a plurality of base stations, each of which is combined with a plurality of subscribers, through a satellite; When the call center receives the call release message signal from the base station, the central station extracts the charging information, the communication state determining step of searching for normal communication with the network management device, and the communication state with the network management device. When the billing information is transmitted to the network management device, if not normal, characterized in that it comprises a billing information processing step of storing the billing information.

That is, according to the above, when the network management apparatus and the central station are not in a normal communication state, the central station can prevent the loss of the charging information by storing the charging information until normal communication is performed.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment according to the present invention.

2 is a schematic block diagram of a central control station 2 to which a charging information loss prevention method is applied in a satellite communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes an antenna for transmitting and receiving satellite 1, an uplink signal, and a downlink signal, and 22 denotes an antenna 21 through the antenna 21 using polarization characteristics of frequency. Orthogonal Mode Transducer (OMT) for separating and inputting and receiving signals, and Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) for low noise Amplifier), a frequency down converter (DC) for converting a frequency signal applied through the low noise amplifier, for example, to an intermediate frequency signal (IF) of 70 MHz, from an IF combination / distributor 23 to be described later. An up-converter (UC) for converting an applied 70 MHz IF signal into a microwave of 14.0 to 14.5 GHz to generate an uplink frequency signal, and an uplink output from the frequency upconverter An RF processor configured to include: (High Power Amplifier HPA) high-power amplifier for amplifying the frequency signals.

In addition, reference numeral 23 separates and outputs the intermediate frequency signal applied from the RF processor 22 into a plurality of intermediate frequency signals, and is applied from the SCPC (Single Channel Per Carrier) channel unit 24 to be described later. IF is a combination divider (Combiner / Distributer) for outputting the combined intermediate frequency signal, 24 is a network controller 30 to demodulate and decode the intermediate frequency signal applied from the IF combination divider 23 to be described later And an SCPC channel unit for encoding and modulating the signal output from the network control unit 30 and outputting to the IF combination distribution unit 23.

Here, the IF combination distribution unit 23 is adopted for system scalability when using a plurality of SCPC channel units 24.

In addition, reference numeral 30 denotes a network controller for controlling the overall system, which performs a polling function for checking the state of each base station 3 and, when there is a call request from a specific base station 3, during a polling process. On the basis of the obtained information, both base stations 3 directly interact with each other by allocating an available traffic channel T of the satellite 1 and a modem to both base stations 3 when the other base station 3 is in a state of communication. Enable communication. When the subscriber billing information is transmitted together with the call cancellation message from the base station 3, it is transmitted to the network management apparatus 40 to be described later. At this time, if the communication state with the network management device 40 is not normal, the charging information is stored in the charging information storage unit 31 which will be described later.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a charging information storage unit for storing the charge information transmitted in addition to the call release message from the base station 3 on the basis of the control signal from the network control unit 30, and 40 denotes a system operator predetermined. It is a network management device to manage the overall satellite communication system by using the operator terminal.

Here, for example, the configuration of reference numerals 21 to 30 except for the network management apparatus 40 is generally referred to as a central station.

That is, in the satellite communication system having the above configuration, the network controller 30 periodically performs a polling function to check the state of each base station 3 and retain predetermined state information. When the call release message is received from the base station 3, the call recovery service recovers the communication channel and modem used by the call and transmits the billing information to the network management device 40. At this time, the network control unit 30 of the central station stores the billing information when the communication with the network management device 40 is not normal.

Next, a method of preventing the loss of billing information in the satellite communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 3.

First, the network controller 30 of the central station outputs a periodic polling signal to each base station 3, and retains state information of each base station 3 based on the response message. Thus, when a predetermined call request signal is received from a specific base station 3, based on the state information of the base station 3 collected in the polling process, the predetermined base station 3 can communicate with the predetermined base station. The modem and the communication channel are allocated to control direct communication between subscribers.

Thereafter, when a predetermined call release message signal is received from the call base station 3 (step ST301), the network controller 30 recovers the communication channel and communication modem allocated during the call (step ST302). Further, the network controller 30 extracts predetermined charging information from the call cancellation message (step ST303) and then determines whether the communication state with the network management device 40 is normal (steps ST304 and ST305).

When the communication with the network management device 40 is in a normal state in step ST304, the network controller 30 transmits the billing information to the network management device 40 (step ST406).

However, when the communication with the network management device 40 is not normal in step ST305, the network controller 30 controls to store the corresponding charging information in the charging information storage unit 31 (step ST307).

Thereafter, the network controller 30 continuously searches whether the communication with the network management device 40 is normal. When the communication is normal, the network controller 30 preferentially searches the billing information stored in the billing information storage unit 31. Transmission to the management device 40.

That is, according to the embodiment, when the network management apparatus and the central station are not in a normal communication state, the central station can prevent the loss of the charging information by storing the charging information until normal communication is performed.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical gist of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, if the communication state between the two components is not normal when transmitting the charging information from the central station in the central control station to the network management apparatus, the charging information is stored in a predetermined memory and then communication is resumed. Afterwards, it is possible to realize the charging information loss prevention method in the satellite communication system that can prevent the loss of the charging information of the subscriber by sending first.

Claims (2)

A satellite communication system for providing a communication function of a subscriber by combining a plurality of base stations, each of which is combined with a plurality of subscribers through a satellite; The central station extracts the charging information when the call cancellation message signal is received from the base station; Communication status determination step of searching whether the normal communication with the network management device; If the communication status with the network management device is normal, the billing information in the satellite communication system comprising a billing information processing step for transmitting the billing information to the network management device, and if it is not normal to store the billing information How to prevent loss. The method of claim 1, Method for preventing the loss of billing information in a satellite communication system comprising the step of storing the billing information when the communication status with the network management device is not normal, and then if the communication is resumed normally, the billing information is transmitted first. .